Screen mask

ABSTRACT

A screen mask for screen printing includes a mask, and a frame configured to support the mask with a tension; the frame including a fixing frame and a moving frame configured to support the mask and movably mounted on the fixing frame, wherein the tension is controlled by the moving frame.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2012-0147541 filed in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office on Dec. 17, 2012, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

(a) Field

The present invention relates to a screen mask for a screen printer.

(b) Description of the Related Art

A flat panel display is manufactured, in part, by forming a functionlayer for performing various functions on a substrate.

The function layer is manufactured through a thin-film process and athick-film process, and a thick film may be formed by a screen printingprocess, a sandblast process, or a dry film process.

The screen printing process has good production efficiency and lowprocessing cost, so it is widely used when high precision is not needed.

To form a fine pattern using the screen printing process, a mask withthe same pattern as a pattern to be formed on the substrate is arrangedon the substrate, and a source material is printed according to thepattern on the substrate, thereby forming a desired pattern.

After the mask is initially manufactured, a necessary amount of the maskis cut and it is attached or assembled to a mask frame to be used forthe screen printing process.

In general, the mask frame to which the mask is attached is manufacturedto be a high-precision, fixed body.

Therefore, when the mask is attached to the mask frame, it is generallyimpossible to increase or decrease the tensile force applied to themask. If the mask is erroneously attached to the mask frame, the usedmask is either detached from the mask frame and attached again theretoor the mask is discarded. Further, the size, uniformity, and position ofan opening in the mask can be changed during the screen printingprocess, requiring the mask be reattached to the mask frame ordiscarded.

FIG. 5 shows a top plan view of a conventional screen mask used to printa screen. Here, the screen mask 1 includes a mask 3 on which a patternis formed and a frame 2 to which the mask 3 is attached and supportedby, and the tensile force is typically not added to or subtracted fromthe mask 3 once it is attached to the frame 2.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is only forenhancement of understanding of the background of the invention andtherefore it may contain information that does not form the prior artthat is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill inthe art.

SUMMARY

The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a screenmask with precisely controllable tension and for controlling tension inat least two directions.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a screen maskfor screen printing including a mask and a frame configured to supportthe mask with a tension, the frame including a fixing frame and a movingframe configured to support the mask and movably mounted on the fixingframe, wherein the tension is controlled by the moving frame.

A plurality of moving frames may support an edge of the mask.

Each of the plurality of moving frames may be movable in at least twodirections.

Each of the plurality of moving frames may be movable in two directionsthat are perpendicular to each other and on a plane that is parallelwith the mask.

The mask may have a rectangular shape, and each of the plurality ofmoving frames may be movable in directions that are parallel to twoadjacent sides of the mask.

The moving frame includes a first rail installed at the fixing frame, afirst carriage movable along the first rail and including a second railperpendicular to the first rail, and a second carriage movable along thesecond rail and supporting one side of the mask.

The first carriage may be mounted on the first rail, and the secondcarriage may be mounted on the second rail, the second rail being at thetop of the first carriage.

The first carriage and the second carriage may be moved by a ball screw.

The ball screw may be configured to be driven by a driving motor.

The ball screw may be configured to be driven manually.

According to embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of movingframes configured to support the mask are movable in at least twodirections, thereby precisely controlling the tension of the mask.

The tension supporting the mask is precisely controllable, therebyreducing or preventing undesired reinstallation and/or replacement ofthe mask. Additional aspects and/or features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will beobvious from the description or may be learned by practice of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a screen mask according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a screen printing process using a screen mask according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of a screen mask according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of a part IV shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a top plan view of a conventional screen mask.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodimentsof the invention are shown. As those skilled in the art would realize,the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, allwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

The drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative innature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate likeelements throughout the specification. The size and thickness of eachconfiguration shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown forunderstanding and ease of description, but the present invention is notlimited thereto.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a screen mask according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a screenprinting process using a screen mask according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of ascreen mask according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of a part IV shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1, the screen mask 10 according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention is used for a screen printingprocess and includes a mask 200 and a frame 100.

The mask 200 is a printing mask on which a pattern to be printed on asubstrate 20 of a display device is formed, and, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, the mask 200 can beconfigured by coating a mesh member (or a plurality of mesh members)with a specific emulsion and forming an opening (or a plurality ofopenings) that corresponds to the pattern to be printed.

The mesh member (or a plurality of mesh members) may be formed of metal.

The mask 200 can be supported by the frame 100 with a tension (e.g., apredetermined tension).

Referring to FIG. 2, the mask 200 supported with the tension by theframe 100 is provided on the substrate 20, on which the pattern isformed. A printing material 40 is deposited on (e.g., supplied to) themask 200 using a pressurizing apparatus 30 (e.g., nozzle) so that theprinting material 40 may be passed through the opening (or openings)(not shown) formed in the mask 200, and the pattern may be printed onthe substrate 20.

In an embodiment and as shown with arrows in FIG. 2, the screen mask 10can control the tension supporting the mask 200 because frames 120 and140 supporting the mask 200 are configured to be movable. The frame 100for (e.g., configured for) supporting the mask 200 will now be describedin detail.

As described, the frame 100 supports the mask 200 with a tension (e.g.,a predetermined tension).

In one embodiment, the frame 100 includes a fixing frame 120 and amoving frame 140 so as to control the tension that supports the mask200.

The fixing frame 120 supports the moving frame 140, and it can be formedto be a quadrangle and can be made of a rigid material, such as metal.

However, without being restricted to the quadrangle form and themetallic material, the fixing frame 120 can be formed to have variousshapes and/or with various materials.

The moving frame 140 supporting the mask 200 can be movably installed(e.g., mounted) on the fixing frame 120.

In this embodiment, the moving frame 140 can fix and support an edge ofthe mask 200.

Accordingly, the tension of the mask 200 fixed to the moving frame 140can be controlled (e.g., adjusted) by moving the moving frame 140.

The edge of the mask 200 can be attached to the moving frame 140 througha fastening apparatus or method (e.g., predetermined fastening apparatusor method) (not shown).

Here, the fastening apparatus or method can be a known fastening member,such as a bolt, or it can be a weld (e.g., configured through welding).

However, without being restricted to this, the fastening apparatus ormethod can be configured in various ways allowing the edge of the mask200 to be attached to the moving frame 140.

There can be multiple (e.g., a plurality of) moving frames 140.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, a plurality of moving frames 140 can beinstalled in (e.g., mounted on) the fixing frame 120, and each of theplurality of moving frames 140 can be individually moved.

The moving frames 140 can be moved in at least two directions (e.g., twoaxes or two axial directions).

As shown in FIG. 3, the moving frames 140 can be moved in two directionsthat intersect (e.g., cross each other) and are on (e.g., provided on) aplane that is parallel to the mask 200.

Referring to FIG. 3, the fixing frame 120 and the mask 200 can berectangular, and the moving frames 140 installed in (e.g., mounted on)the fixing frame 120 can be moved in directions that are parallel to twoneighboring sides of the fixing frame 120 or the mask 200, for instance,the x-axis direction and y-axis direction.

Therefore, the screen mask 10 moves the moving frames 140 individually,thereby precisely controlling (e.g., adjusting) the tension of the mask200 supported by the frame 100.

When the number of moving frames 140 is increased, the tension can bemore precisely controlled, and the number of moving frames 140 isvariable according to the size of the mask 200 and/or of the fixingframe 120 and a required degree of control (e.g., control degree) of thetension supporting the mask 200.

For example, the mask 200 (e.g., rectangular mask) can be configuredwith at least one moving frame 140 for each side (e.g., each supportedside) of the mask 200.

The respective moving frames 140 can be moved in at least two directions(e.g., two axes or two axial directions), and a detailed configurationof the moving frame 140 for realizing (e.g., controlling) the movementwill be described.

Referring to FIG. 4, each of the plurality of moving frames 140installed in the screen mask 10 can be configured into (e.g., configuredas) a single unit so that they may be moved in two directions (e.g., twoaxial directions) individually.

Each moving frame 140 includes a first carriage 143 and a secondcarriage 145. Each moving frame 140 is configured to move on a firstrail 141.

Here, the first rail 141 is formed on one side of the fixing frame 120,and it can form a straight (or substantially straight) guide rail.

The first rail 141 is installed in (e.g., mounted on or formed on) thefixing frame 120 in the x-axis direction with respect to FIG. 4.

The first rail 141 is formed in a direction that is parallel to one sideof the mask 200 (e.g., rectangular mask).

The first carriage 143 can be moved along the first rail 141, astructure (e.g., a groove) that corresponds to the first rail 141 isformed on one side of the first carriage 143 so as to move along (e.g.,interact with) the first rail 141, and a second rail 142 can be formedin a direction that is perpendicular to the first rail 141 on anotherside of the first carriage 143.

The second rail 142 can be formed as a straight (or substantiallystraight) guide rail at the top of the first carriage 143, and it can beformed in the y-axis direction that is perpendicular to the x-axisdirection as shown in FIG. 4.

The second rail 142 can be formed in a direction that is parallel toanother side of the mask 200 (e.g., rectangular mask) that neighbors theside of the mask 200 that is parallel to the first rail 141 that isdescribed above.

The second carriage 145 can be moved along (e.g., interact with) thesecond rail 142 formed on the first carriage 143, and it can support oneedge of the mask 200 (e.g., rectangular mask).

One edge of the mask 200 can be attached to the second carriage 145through a known fastening apparatus or by a known fastening method, suchas welding.

Each moving frame 140 includes the first carriage 143 that moves in thex-axis direction along the first rail 141 formed on the fixing frame 120and the second carriage 145 that moves in the y-axis direction along thesecond rail 142 formed on the first carriage 143, so it can be moved intwo directions (e.g., two axes or two axial directions), and the tensionof the mask 200 supported by the moving frames 140 can be preciselycontrolled (e.g., adjusted).

Each moving frame 140 may include a ball screw and a linear guide.

The first rail 141 and the second rail 142 can be configured with (e.g.,include or be formed as) the linear guide, and the first carriage 143and the second carriage 145 can be configured to be movable by the ballscrew.

The described ball screw and the linear guide can be automaticallyoperated through a drive motor.

However, without being restricted to this, the operational configurationof the moving frame 140 is changeable in many ways, and, for instance,it can be configured to be manually operable.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first rail 141, the first carriage 143, thesecond rail 142, and the second carriage 145 can be sequentiallydisposed (e.g., sequentially located) in order from bottom to top.

Therefore, one side of the mask 200 can be moved in two directions(e.g., two axial directions) that are perpendicular to each other byusing a simple configuration.

The screen mask 10 is configured such that the moving frames 140supporting the mask 200 may be moved in at least two directions (e.g.,two axes two or axial directions), thereby precisely controlling thetension that supports the mask 200.

Accordingly, the problem of unnecessarily reinstalling or exchanging themask 200 after it is installed in the frame 100 because of lack ofcontrol of tension or position is prevented to save time and cost, andefficiency of the screen printing process is improved.

While this invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A screen mask for screen printing, the screenmask comprising: a mask; and a frame configured to support the mask witha tension, the frame comprising: a fixing frame; and a moving frameconfigured to support a single edge of the mask and movably mounted onthe fixing frame, wherein the tension is controlled by the moving frame,and wherein the moving frame is movable in at least two directions withrespect to the fixing frame, the at least two directions beingperpendicular to each other.
 2. The screen mask of claim 1, wherein theframe further comprises: a plurality of moving frames supporting themask.
 3. The screen mask of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality ofmoving frames is movable in two directions that are perpendicular toeach other and on a plane that is parallel with the mask.
 4. The screenmask of claim 3, wherein the mask has a rectangular shape, and each ofthe plurality of moving frames is movable in directions that areparallel to two adjacent edges of the mask.
 5. A screen mask for screenprinting, the screen mask comprising: a mask; and a frame configured tosupport the mask with a tension, the frame comprising: a fixing frame;and at least three moving frames, each of the moving frames supportingan edge of the mask and movably mounted on the fixing frame, wherein thetension is controlled by the plurality of moving frames, and whereineach of the moving frames is movable in at least two directions withrespect to the fixing frame, the at least two directions beingperpendicular to each other.
 6. A screen mask for screen printing, thescreen mask comprising: a mask; and a frame configured to support themask with a tension, the frame comprising: a fixing frame; and a movingframe configured to support the mask and movably mounted on the fixingframe, wherein the tension is controlled by the moving frame, whereinthe moving frame is movable in at least two direction that areperpendicular to each other, and wherein moving frame comprises: a firstrail installed at the fixing frame; a first carriage movable along thefirst rail, and comprising a second rail perpendicular to the firstrail; and a second carriage movable along the second rail and supportingone edge of the mask.
 7. The screen mask of claim 6, wherein the firstcarriage is mounted on the first rail, and the second carriage ismounted on the second rail, the second rail being at a top of the firstcarriage.
 8. The screen mask of claim 6, wherein the first carriage andthe second carriage are moved by a ball screw.
 9. The screen mask ofclaim 8, wherein the ball screw is configured to be driven by a drivingmotor.
 10. The screen mask of claim 8, wherein the ball screw isconfigured to be driven manually.